Vending machine for retaining and dispensing products

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for dispensing a product, including a housing having a storage rack for holding a first dispensable product; a weight movably positioned within the rack and configured to exert a downward force on the first dispensable product; a magnet affixed to the weight; a sensor plate having a sensor affixed thereto; a coin assembly having a first coin slot configured to receive a coin; and a pushbutton configured to cause the coin assembly to move from a first position to a second position; wherein the magnet is configured to substantially align with the sensor once the first dispensable product has been completely dispensed from the housing, the magnet and sensor being configured to activate an indicator light on the outside of the housing; and wherein the housing is configured to dispense the first dispensable product when the coin assembly is within the second position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/338,066 filed Oct. 28, 2016, which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/143,619, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,501,888on Nov. 22, 2016. The present application hereby expressly incorporatesby reference the complete disclosure of each of these applications intheir entities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vending machines that dispense femininehygiene products. Specifically, this invention relates to acoin-operated vending machine that dispenses sanitary napkins andtampons.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are coin drop mechanisms and coin-operated release machines invarious forms in the prior art. These previous inventions vary insophistication and efforts to prevent against theft, weather conditions,and durability. Numerous inventions within the prior art prevent fraudby having complex electronic or mechanical schemes to authenticatecurrency. Other less complex coin drop mechanisms or coin-operatedrelease machines require the user to rotate a handle by twisting arotatable lever. This rotation is often impossible for users who areincapable of twisting their wrists and applying torque pressure whiletwisting. There are very limited prior inventions that have a pushbuttoncoin-operated release as found in this invention.

The following two (2) patents are relevant to the present invention:

1. U.S. Pat. No. 7,469,779 issued to James G. Horian on Dec. 30, 2008for “Coin Drop Mechanism”.

2. U.S. Pat. No. 7,950,513 issued to James G. Horian on May 31, 2011 for“Coin Drop Mechanism”.

Therefore, there is a significant need for an improved invention whichis mechanically simple, but functionally complete to allow a user orconsumer to dispense a product using a coin-operated machine withoutrequiring the user to twist or apply torque pressure to thecoin-operated machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a coin-operated machine that dispenses femininehygiene products. This coin-operated vending machine functions by havinga slot opening where a coin is inserted. When the coin is inserted, apushbutton is then pushed to force a product out of a storage holder andonto a release tray. All the components of the coin-operated vendingmachine are mechanical except for an electronic sensor that notifies theend user through illumination of a red light that the vending machine isout of product. The present invention relates to vending machines thatdispense feminine hygiene products. Specifically, this invention relatesto a coin-operated vending machine that dispenses sanitary napkins andtampons. This invention allows a user to purchase a feminine hygieneproduct by placing a coin or multiple coins or no coins in a slot withinthe vending machine and pressing a product release button. The productis then dispensed to the consumer.

The mechanical functioning components of the vending machine and theproducts to be dispensed are primarily found within the presentinventions cabinet interior. The external components of the vendingmachine such as the release tray and the moveable pushbuttons are foundon the front of the invention.

It is an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus tohold and dispense two products. These two products are sanitary napkinsand tampons. The pushbutton release mechanisms used to release these twoproducts are predominantly the same with small differences that will beexplained in the detailed description of the embodiments section.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide apredominantly mechanical device for dispensing feminine hygiene productsthat does not require the rotation of a handle. This can be difficult orimpossible for individuals with physical limitations.

It is an additional object of the present invention to allow theoperator or owner of the vending machine to select the number of coinsrequired to dispense a product. The amount of currency required topurchase a product can vary from being free (no coins) to up to fiftycents in quarters. It is also within the spirit and scope of thisinvention to have a higher range of cost which could be achieved by theuse of one dollar coins. Further, this invention can be used withforeign currencies with slight modifications to the coin slot assembly.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a simplemechanical device that dispenses feminine hygiene products without therisk of quarters becoming lodged or stuck in the vending machine duringoperation. Some prior art coin drop mechanisms involve elaborate schemesto channel the quarter from an upper quarter insert location to lowerinternal components of the vending machine. This creates inherentpossibilities for the quarter to be stuck inside of the vending machine.Further, there is an additional cost to having numerous componentswithin a vending machine which are necessary to channel the quarter andthese additional components increase the chance of at least onemalfunction of an additional component.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a userfriendly, low maintenance, easy-to-operate feminine hygiene productdispenser. As discussed above, the only electrical components of thepresent invention are sensors to visually notify when the invention isout of one of the products. The present invention is designed todispense tampons and sanitary napkins to users when a quarter isinserted into the vending machine. The push buttons for each of theproducts require less than five (5) pounds of force to be pushed in anddispense a product which is a requirement of ADA (American DisabilityAct). Each of the two products is released when each respectivepushbutton is depressed. After the quarter (or quarters depending uponthe preference of the owner of the facility where the present inventionis located) is selected, the user inserts the quarter into one of theopen slots in the lower front portion of the vending machine. Thequarter is inserted between two movable support members. These membersare a coin return release and a cam. After the coin is inserted and thecam rotates, a portion of a hole partially covered by the cam is opened,exposing more of the hole. This allows the coin slot plate withpushbutton attached to move inwards towards the center of the vendingmachine. As the coin slot plate moves inward, a protruding member whichfits through the exposed hole forces the cam to rotate and expose evenmore of the hole. As the cam rotates counterclockwise exposing more ofthe hole, the distance between the cam and the coin return wall becomesgreater and the quarter is no longer held in place. This causes thequarter to pass thorough the slot opening and into the coin collectorbox.

For the tampon product, the push button is pushed inward towards thecenter of the invention. The push button when pushed displaces thetampon pusher to move inwards and away from the front of the vendingmachine. The tampon pusher when displaced then comes into direct contactwith the tampon and pushes the tampon off of a tampon storage shelf anddrops the tampon onto the release tray where the user can retrieve theproduct.

Similarly, for the sanitary napkin product after the coin(s) isinserted, the push button is pushed inward towards the center of thevending machine. The push button when pushed displaces a push rod. Thepush rod is connected by interlocking tongue and groove teeth to apinion gear which rotates the pinion gear as the push rod moves awayfrom the front of the vending machine towards the center of the vendingmachine. This causes the sanitary napkin tray to rotate, which forcesone of the sanitary napkin boxes to drop onto the release tray where theuser can reach, remove from the vending machine and then use theproduct.

It is further object of the present invention to have a product weightfor each of the two products. Therefore, included inside of the vendingmachine is a tampon weight and a sanitary napkin weight. These weightsprovide three functions. First, a respective weight forces eachrespective individual product downward onto a respective storage shelfand in position for the dispensing mechanism to engage the product.Second, each of the weights has a magnet attached to the weight whichwhen the weight comes in contact with a sensor completes an electricalcircuit which notifies the user by means of an LED light that a productis no longer available. This visibly alerts the user that the vendingmachine is empty of tampons or sanitary napkins, or both. It also alertsthe attendant that the vending machine needs to be filled with theproduct without requiring the attendant to open the door and visiblycheck. Lastly, when the product weights are at the bottom of the hopperor reservoir, it blocks the coin-operated pushbutton from movingforward. Therefore, coins will not drop into the coin collection box andcan be retrieved through a coin return plate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus fordispensing a product is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises ahousing for retaining a first dispensable product, the housing having astorage rack configured to hold the first dispensable product; a weightmovably positioned within the storage rack, the weight being configuredto exert a downward force on the first dispensable product; a magnetaffixed to the weight; a sensor plate positioned adjacent to a first endof the storage rack, the sensor plate having a sensor affixed thereto; acoin assembly having a first coin slot, the coin assembly beingconfigured to receive a coin; and a pushbutton associated with the coinassembly, the pushbutton being configured, upon activation, to cause thecoin assembly to move from a first position to a second position after acoin has been placed within the first coin slot; wherein the magnet isconfigured to substantially align with the sensor once the firstdispensable product has been completely dispensed from the housing, themagnet and sensor, once substantially aligned, being configured toactivate an indicator light on the outside of the housing; and whereinthe housing is configured to dispense the first dispensable product whenthe coin assembly is within the second position.

Further novel features and other objects of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, discussion andthe appended claims, taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring particularly to the drawings for the purpose of illustrationonly and not limitation, there is illustrated:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the present invention with thedoor to the invention in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the present invention with thedoor to the invention open;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the present invention with thedoor to the invention open and the invention rotated approximately 90degrees from the view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the present invention with the doorto the invention open;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tampon sensor retaining plateretaining an out-of-product sensor, which tampon sensor retaining plateis retained at a bottom of the tampon rack illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a tampon weight retaining anout-of-product first magnet;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the feminine napkin sensor plateretaining an out-of-product second sensor, which feminine napkin sensorplate is retained at a bottom of the feminine napkin rack illustrated inFIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a feminine napkin weight retaining anout-of-product second magnet;

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the coin collection box;

FIG. 10 is front perspective view of the front face plate;

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the tampon pusher;

FIG. 12 top perspective view of the tampon tray with the tampon shelf;

FIG. 13 is an exploded bottom perspective view of the pinion gear andsanitary napkin dispenser;

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the assembled pinion gear andsanitary napkin dispenser;

FIG. 15 is a top perspective open view of the sanitary napkin push rod;

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of the front coin slot plate;

FIG. 17 an exploded front view of the coin slot assembly illustratingthe rear coin slot plate, the middle coin slot plate and the front coinslot plate;

FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the front coin slot plate;

FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of the middle coin slot plate;

FIG. 20 is a rear perspective view of the rear coin slot plate;

FIG. 21 is a front/top perspective view of the gear box cover;

FIG. 22 is a top/front perspective view of the module housing for boththe sanitary napkin dispenser and the tampon dispenser;

FIG. 23 is a rear perspective view of the module housing includingpinion gear, sanitary napkin dispenser, tampon dispenser and compressionsprings;

FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of the module housing includingpinion gear, sanitary napkin dispenser, tampon dispenser and an explodedview of compression springs;

FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of the coin return plate for usewith one coin;

FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of the coin return plate for usewith two coins;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a cam;

FIG. 28 is a rear perspective view of the coin slot assembly with onecam for use with a tampon product or sanitary napkin (but numbers arefor tampon product) at a cost of one quarter with no quarter in the coinslot, and also illustrating the coin return plate for two coins;

FIG. 29 is a rear perspective view of the coin slot assembly with onecam for use with a tampon product or sanitary napkin (but numbers arefor tampon product) at a cost of one quarter with one quarter in thecoin slot, and also illustrating the coin return plate for one coin;

FIG. 30 is a rear perspective view of the coin slot assembly with onecam for use with a tampon product or sanitary napkin (but numbers arefor sanitary napkin) at a cost of one quarter with one quarter in thecoin slot;

FIG. 31 is a rear perspective view of the coin slot assembly usable withtwo cams for use with a tampon product or sanitary napkin (but numbersare for tampon product) at a cost of two quarters with two quarters inthe coin slot;

FIG. 32 is a rear perspective view of the coin slot assembly with nocams for use with a tampon product or sanitary napkin (but numbers arefor sanitary napkin) at a cost of no quarters with no quarters in thecoin slot;

FIG. 33 is a schematic of the coin slot assembly after a quarter isfirst inserted into the coin slot;

FIG. 34 is a schematic of the coin slot assembly when the cam hasrotated slightly in the counterclockwise direction when the coin slotassembly is pushed inwards when the user purchases a product; and

FIG. 35 is a schematic of the coin slot assembly after the quarter isreleased from the cam and the cam rotates clockwise by force of the camcompression spring to the cam's initial position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Although specific embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the drawings, it should be understood thatsuch embodiments are by way of example only and merely illustrative ofbut a small number of the many possible specific embodiments which canrepresent applications of the principles of the present invention.Various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art towhich the present invention pertains are deemed to be within the spirit,scope and contemplation of the present invention as further defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a front elevational view of thepresent invention feminine hygiene product dispenser 10 with its frontdoor 7 closed. Located on cabinet 8 towards the bottom of front panel 5of the present invention feminine hygiene product dispenser 10 is afront face plate 20. On the front face plate 20 is a first coin slotopening 26 located near the upper right corner of front face plate 20.First coin slot opening 26 is used in conjunction with first pushbutton36 to dispense tampons from feminine hygiene product dispenser 10.Similarly, second coin slot opening 28 is used in conjunction withsecond pushbutton 38 to dispense sanitary napkins from feminine hygieneproduct dispenser 10. When each respective product is no longeravailable, first LED light 42 and second LED light 44 are activated byilluminating a visible light of at least one color, preferably, but notlimited to, red. (The details of the sensor are discussed in more detailfurther below.)

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the present invention is illustratedhaving a front door 7, inside back panel 9, bottom inside panel 17(which makes up the flat surface of release tray 40), a first right sidepanel 13, a bottom panel 19, a first left panel 25, an inside rightpanel 27, and a top panel 23. Front door 7 contains a right door sidepanel 11A, a bottom door side panel 11B, a top door panel 11C, a leftdoor panel 11D, and a rear door panel 15. Feminine hygiene productdispenser 10 is opened by rotating the front door 7 in a clockwisedirection away from first side panel 13 by use of hinge 16. Femininehygiene product dispenser 10 can be locked using first lock 8A inconjunction with lock retainer 8B to prevent front door 7 from opening.Also shown is second lock 12A where a second lock can be placed and usedin conjunction with second lock retainer 12B.

The present invention feminine hygiene product dispenser 10 utilizeseither a cam to purchase a product or a coin return plate to allow auser to have their quarter returned. When each respective pushbutton isused to purchase a product, a coin slot assembly (as further describedin detail below) works in conjunction with a cam and releases thequarter after the coin slot assembly has moved a distance towards thecenter of the invention, thereby allowing the quarter to drop into acoin collection box. When a user decides to not purchase a product, thenthe coin return handle is utilized without the coin slot assembly movinginwards and the coin is released to the coin return tray. Thefunctioning of the cam and the coin return plate are described ingreater detail below.

Further referring to FIG. 3, there are illustrated tampons beingretained in tampon rack 500. The tampon rack has a tampon first frontwall 514, a tampon second front wall 518, a tampon left side wall 516, atampon right sidewall 520, a tampon back wall 502, a tampon left rearwall 522, and a tampon right rear wall 524. Tampons are placed insidetampon holder interior chamber 503 at tampon rack top 530 of tampon rack500. A multitude of tampons can be placed inside tampon rack 500 as theyare held in a stored position by tampon first front wall 514, tamponsecond front wall 518, tampon left side wall 516, tampon right sidewall520, tampon back wall 502, tampon left rear wall 522, and tampon rightrear wall 524. The first tampon sensor plate 550 retaining anout-of-product first sensor 542B is retained at the bottom 550 of tamponrack 500.

Further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a tampon weight 540 whichretains an out-of-product first magnet 542A (see FIG. 6) which providesa downward force to keep a multiplicity of tampons in place and thelowest tampon member in a position to be pushed off of tampon shelf 512of the tampon tray 511 (see FIG. 12). Tampon weight 540 provides anadditional function by having a first magnet 542A that will illuminatefirst LED light 42 in a visible color including, but not limited to red,when first magnet 542A is facing and in proximity with first sensor 542Blocated on sensor plate 550 (see FIG. 5). Tampon weight 540 and sanitarynapkin weight 640 provide an additional function by blocking the forwardmovement of first coin slot assembly 100A (illustrated in FIG. 28) whenthe present invention is out of tampons and second coin slot assembly100B (illustrated in FIG. 30) when the present invention is out ofsanitary napkins.

As can be seen from tampon weight 540 in FIG. 6, there is a heightassociated with tampon weight 540 so that when there is no productremaining in tampon rack 500, from the components illustrated in FIGS.2, 3, 5 and 6, first magnet 542A and first sensor 542B line up and faceeach other to complete a circuit using wires 580, battery 575 and firstLED light 42. When this circuit is complete, first LED light 42illuminates in a visible color, by way of example, the color red, whichillumination is visible through LED light 42.

Further referring to FIG. 3, there are illustrated sanitary napkinsbeing retained in sanitary napkin rack 600. The sanitary napkin rack hasa sanitary napkin first front wall 614, a sanitary napkin second frontwall 618, a sanitary napkin left side wall 616, a sanitary napkin rightsidewall 620, a sanitary napkin back wall 602, a sanitary napkin leftrear wall 622, and a sanitary napkin right rear wall 624. Sanitarynapkins are placed inside sanitary napkin holder interior chamber 603 atsanitary napkin rack top 630 of sanitary napkin rack 600. A multitude ofsanitary napkins can be placed inside sanitary napkin rack 600 as theyare held in a stored position by sanitary napkin first front wall 614,sanitary napkin second front wall 618, sanitary napkin left side wall616, sanitary napkin right sidewall 620, sanitary napkin back wall 602,sanitary napkin left rear wall 622, and sanitary napkin right rear wall624. The first sanitary napkin sensor plate 641 retaining anout-of-product second sensor 642B (see FIG. 7) is retained at the bottomof sanitary napkin rack 650.

Further referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, after there is no more sanitarynapkin product, sanitary napkin weight 640 retaining second magnet 642A(see FIG. 8) comes to rest on the bottom of sanitary napkin rack 600 andon top of sanitary napkin dispenser 850 (as will be described). In thisposition, second magnet 642A and second sensor 642B on sanitary napkinsensor plate 641 (FIG. 7) line up and face each other to complete acircuit using wires 580, battery 575, and second LED light 44. When thiscircuit is complete, second LED light 44 illuminates in a visible color,by way of example, the color red. Sanitary napkin weight 640, whenpositioned at the bottom of sanitary napkin rack 600, prevents secondcoin slot assembly 100B (as will be described) from moving inwardtowards the center of the invention. This prevents the user of theinvention from spending a quarter on a product when the invention is outof a product.

Referring to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a top perspective view of thecoin collection box 700 with coin collection box lock 702, alsoillustrated at the bottom of FIGS. 2 and 3.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is illustrated a front face plate having afirst coin slot opening 26, a first coin return tray 66, a second coinslot opening 28 and a second coin return tray 68 (see FIG. 22).

Referring to FIG. 11, there is illustrated a top perspective view of thetampon pusher 400 having a front curved face 410 with a cylindricalmember 340 having a cylindrical opening 402.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is illustrated a top perspective view of thetampon tray 411 with tampon opening 527 and tampon shelf 512.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is illustrated a bottom perspective view ofthe sanitary napkin dispenser 850 and referring to FIG. 14 there isillustrated a bottom perspective view of the assembled sanitary napkindispenser 850.

Sanitary napkin dispenser 850 attaches to module housing 300 by sanitarynapkin pin 858 slidably inserted through and retained in module housingslot opening 397 (see FIG. 22 to be described). Referring to FIGS. 13and 14, pinion gear 800 has a central hub 810 with a central opening 812and a groove 814 in the wall of the central hub. Sanitary napkindispenser 850 is integrally affixed to shaft 825. Shaft 825 has an end830 with a tongue 844 adjacent end 830. Shaft 825 is connected to piniongear 800 by means of tongue 844 of shaft end 830 press fitting snuglyinto groove 814 interior hub opening 812 with the remainder of the shaftend 830 press fit retained in central opening 812. Tongue section 844 ofshaft end 830 prevents the pinion gear from slipping during rotation byfitting into groove section 814 of interior hub opening 812. As piniongear 800 and shaft 825 rotate in unison, sanitary napkin dispenser 850rotates as well.

Referring to FIG. 15, there is illustrated a top perspective open viewof the sanitary napkin push rod 370 having cylinder 372 and teeth 374which engage teeth 802 of pinion gear 800.

FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of the coin slot assembly. FIG. 17is an exploded front view of the coin slot assembly illustrating therear coin slot plate 140, the middle coin slot plate 180, and the frontcoin slot plate 160. FIG. 18 is a rear perspective view of the frontcoin slot plate. FIG. 19 is a rear perspective view of the middle coinslot plate 180. FIG. 20 is a rear perspective view of the rear coin slotplate 140.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 25 and 26, there is illustrated in FIG. 25 a firstcoin return plate 110-1 or in FIG. 26 a second coin return plate 110-2(which will be explained in other paragraphs) and a first coin returnhandle 56 which works in conjunction with a coin return tray 66illustrated in FIG. 1. There is also a duplicate assembly with a secondcoin return handle 58 which works in conjunction with a second coinreturn tray 68, the remaining components being the same and to one sideof the first coin return assembly. When a user decides not to purchase aproduct after inserting a quarter into first coin slot opening 26 orsecond coin slot opening 28 (see FIG. 10), the user has the ability toreturn the quarter(s) prior to making a purchase by utilizing first coinreturn handle 56 and/or second coin return handle 58.

The first coin dispensing assembly 100A is illustrated assembled foroperation in the front perspective view of FIG. 16. To obtain a betterunderstanding of the components, a front perspective view of thecomplete assembled first coin dispensing assembly 100A is illustrated inFIG. 16. A front perspective exploded view of main components of thefirst coin dispensing assembly is illustrated in FIG. 17. Rearperspective views of the same main components of the first coindispensing assembly 100A, with certain parts numbered, are respectivelyillustrated in FIGS. 18, 19 and 20. A rear perspective view of firstcoin return plate 110-1 for use with a single coin such as a quarter isillustrated in FIG. 25. A rear perspective view of second coin returnplate 110-2 for two coins such as two quarters is illustrated in FIG.26. Referring to the figures identified in this paragraph, in FIG. 28,first coin slot assembly 100A is illustrated from a rear perspectiveview. Front coin slot plate 160, middle coin slot plate 180 and rearcoin slot plate 140 and second coin return plate 110-2, come together toform a first coin slot assembly 100A as illustrated. First coin slotassembly 100A works in conjunction with first coin slot opening 26 todispense tampons. There is a second coin slot assembly adjacent firstcoin slot assembly 100A located to the left behind front panel 20 thatis not pictured in the Figures but functions identically to that offirst coin slot assembly 100A. The second coin slot assembly works inconjunction with second coin slot opening 28 to dispense sanitarynapkins.

Referring to FIG. 18, front coin slot plate 160 has a first alignedhandle opening 156HA. Referring to FIG. 19, middle coin slot plate 180has a first compression spring housing 122 and a second compressionspring housing 132. Referring to FIG. 28, first compression spring 122CSis retained within first compression spring housing 122 between firstendwall 116 and second endwall 124, with a portion of first compressionspring 122CS extending transversely to wall 180W. Second compressionspring 132CS is retained within second compression spring housing 132between first endwall 126 and second endwall 134. Middle coin slot plate180 also includes a second aligned handle opening 156HB, a top camcompression spring housing 219 surrounding an interior 1191 to house acam compression spring 218, a first assembly top hole 210 surrounded bytop hole housing 215 and bottom hole housing 1215 surrounding firstassembly bottom hole 1210. Rear coin slot plate 140 includes theillustrated portions which extend inwardly toward middle coin slot plate180 including an interior end wall 147 from which first fixed protrusion147F1 and spaced apart second fixed protrusion 147F2 extend (147, 147F1and 147F2 are shown in dashed lines in FIG. 20 because they extend fromthe opposite side of the wall 140W). Also illustrated in FIG. 20 are thefixed ends of spaced apart protrusions 146A and 142A (which also extendfrom the opposite side of the wall 140W), and which respectively extendthrough slotted openings 146B and 142B in first coin return plate, 110-1and second coin return plate 110-2. Other components will be describedin additional paragraphs.

Referring to FIGS. 20, 26 and 28, second coin return plate 110-2 isslidably affixed between middle coin slot plate 180 and rear coin slotplate 140, to be engaged by and slidably move between the slot plates.Second coin return plate 110-2 includes a second coin return plate lowernotch 110-2LN which engages transversely extending portion of firstcompression spring 122CS and a second coin return plate upper notch110-2UN which engages transverse extending portion of second compressionspring 132CS. Concurrently, first protrusion 146A is inserted throughfirst slot 146B and second protrusion 142A is inserted through secondslot 142B. In addition, second coin return plate 110-2 has three spacedapart tabs 58A, 58B and 58C, with tab 58C located below lower fixedprotrusion 147F2, tab 58B located between lower fixed protrusion 147F2and upper fixed protrusion 147F1 and tab 58A located above upper fixedprotrusion 147F1, with the tabs located at a distance from endwall 147.In addition, second coin retained plate 110-2 has an interior wall 1201with an upper indent 120UI and a lower indent 118LI. First coin returnplate 110-1 illustrated in FIG. 25 has a primarily straight interiorwall 120S with only an upper indent 120 and a lower portion 118 beingstraight with no indent. In operation, handle 56 is moved toward endwall147 with tabs 58A, 58B, and 58C slidably moving until they hit endwall147 and are stopped and concurrently first protrusion 142A slidablymoves through oval opening 142B and second protrusion 146B slidablemoves through oval opening 146B until each respectively hit the portionof each oval opening closest to interior wall 1201. Concurrently,interior wall 1201 moves toward endwall 147 with indents 120UI and 118LImoving toward endwall 147. When the sliding motion is stopped, thehandle 56 is released and compression return springs 122CS and 132CSwhich were compressed in their respective housings each exerts a returnspring force to return second coin return plate 110-2 to its originalposition.

Referring to FIG. 27, there is illustrated a tampon top cam 200. Thiscam rotates in the counterclockwise direction when a user is purchasinga product. A quarter is held in position between tampon top cam firstprotrusion surface 202 and first coin return plate 100-1. When a user ispurchasing a product, tampon top cam 200 rotates in the counterclockwisedirection from an initial position when the quarter has been placed infirst coin slot opening 26 and tampon top can first protrusion surface202 is touching the quarter to a position of approximately 10 degrees inthe counterclockwise direction so that tampon top cam first protrusionsurface 202 is no longer in contact with the quarter. The functioning ofthe cam is discussed in further detail below.

Referring to FIG. 30, coin slot assembly 100B has a third cylindricalend wall 662 located on third exterior cylindrical member 660 and afourth cylindrical endwall 682 located on fourth cylindrical member 680.Referring to FIG. 24, module housing 300 is illustrated having acombined sanitary napkin module and tampon module compression spring 362that is retained between a first sanitary napkin cylindrical member 360and third exterior end wall inside of third cylindrical member 660.Similarly, there is a first sanitary napkin module compression spring382 that is retained between a second sanitary napkin cylindrical member380 and fourth cylindrical end wall 682 inside of fourth cylindricalmember 680.

FIG. 28 further shows the above described action. Second coin returnplate 110-2 is slidably retained in an interior chamber between aninterior of wall 140W and wall 180W. Second coin return plate 110-2slides within the interior chamber until stopped as described above andreturned to its original position as described above. The threecomponents, rear coin slot plate 140, middle coin slot plate 180 andfront coin slot plate 160 are all transparent so that FIG. 28illustrates an open transparent view of the coin return assembly 100A.Further, middle coin slot plate 180 is affixed into front coin slotplate 160 and the rear coin slot plate 140 is affixed to front coin slotplate 160 so that a gap or interior chamber 114 is formed between aninterior surface of wall 140W and wall 180W. The gap 114 is aligned withbottom slot opening 144 in front coin slot plate 160.

FIG. 28 further shows the above described action. Second coin returnplate 110-2 is slidably retained in an interior chamber between aninterior of wall 140W and wall 180W. Second coin return plate 110-2slides within the interior chamber until stopped as described above andreturned to its original position as described above. The threecomponents, rear coin slot plate 140, middle coin slot plate 180 andfront coin slot plate 160 are all transparent so that FIG. 28illustrates an open transparent view of the coin return assembly 100A.Further, middle coin slot plate 180 is affixed into front coin slotplate 160 and the rear coin slot plate 140 is affixed to front coin slotplate 160 so that a gap or interior chamber 114 is formed between aninterior surface of wall 140W and wall 180W. The gap 114 is aligned withbottom slot opening 144 in front coin slot plate 160.

First coin return plate 110-1 is illustrated in FIG. 29. Furtherillustrated in FIG. 29, when a quarter 725 is placed in first coin slotopening 26, the quarter is held in place by a notch 120 located on firstcoin return plate 110-1 and tampon top cam first protrusion surface 202located on tampon top cam 200. These cams are spring loaded whichcreates pressure on the quarter 725 and prevents the quarter 725 fromdropping and holds it in place. If the user decides to not purchase aproduct, the user can slide first coin return handle 56 on first coinreturn plate 110-1 to the right, compressing first compression spring122CS and second compression spring 132CS. After first coin return plate110-1 is displaced approximately half way to coin assembly endwall 147,the quarter 725 is no longer supported by and is no longer touchingfirst notch 120. This causes the quarter 725 to slide down and throughinterior chamber 114 until it passes out of bottom slot opening 144 andinto coin collection box 700. When the user releases first coin returnhandle 56, first compression spring 122CS and second compression spring132CS force first coin return plate 110-1 back to its initial restingposition.

Further illustrated in FIG. 29, in first coin slot assembly 100A thereis a first assembly top hole 210 and tampon top cam closure end 212.Tampon top cam 200 is held in a non-rotating position in first coin slotassembly 100A by means of cam spring 218. This forces tampon top camclosure end 212 to partially cover first assembly top hole 210 andprohibits first coin slot assembly 100A from moving forward to dispense.When a quarter is inserted into first coin slot opening 26, the quarterexerts a downward force on tampon top cam 200 which causes tampon topcam 200 to rotate counterclockwise by a small distance (approximately 2millimeters). This rotation causes tampon top cam closure end 212 toexpose more of first assembly top hole 210. After first assembly tophole 210 has been exposed by the placement of a quarter inside of firstcoin slot opening 26 and a user presses in first pushbutton 36 on firstcoin slot assembly 100A, first coin slot assembly 100A moves inwardtowards the center of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 28, as first coin slot assembly 100A movesinward, first cylindrical endwall 262 inside of first exteriortransversely extending cylindrical member 252 fits inside of a firsttampon cylindrical member 330 to compress a third compression spring302, and second cylindrical endwall 264 inside of second exteriorcylindrical member 254 fits inside of second tampon cylindrical member314 to compress a fourth compression spring 304. Further, when firstcoin slot assembly 100A moves inward, first distal end 308 of uppertampon protruding member 312 enters first assembly top hole 210. Whenupper tampon protruding member 312 is further pushed into first assemblytop hole 210, an upper tampon ribbed section 313 located on upper tamponprotruding member 312 begins and displaces tampon top cam presser 214.As tampon top cam presser 214 is displaced by upper tampon protrudingmember 312 (see FIG. 22), more of first assembly top hole 210 isexposed. Tampon top cam presser 214 rests directly against tampon topcam closure end 212. The displacement of tampon top cam presser 214causes the displacement of tampon top cam closure end 212 since theseparts are pressed directly against each other. The displacement oftampon top cam closure cam end 212 by upper tampon protruding member 312causes tampon top cam 200 to further rotate by an additional distance(approximately 4 millimeters). When tampon top cam 200 rotates fromtampon top cam first protrusion surface 202 touching the quarter totampon top cam second protrusion surface 204, this increases thedistance between tampon top cam 200 and second coin return plate 110-2(in FIG. 28) or first coin return plate 110-1 (in FIG. 29) which causesthe quarter to no longer be held in position and to slide down andthrough interior chamber 114 until it passes out of bottom slot opening144 and into coin collection box 700.

Schematic FIGS. 33, 34 and 35 summarize the operation of a cam byillustrating a quarter first entering the coin slot (FIG. 33), the camrotating counter clockwise slightly when the coin slot assembly ispushed inward (FIG. 34), and the cam returning to its initial restingposition prior to the insertion of a quarter and the quarter fallingdown and beginning to exit the coin slot assembly (FIG. 35).

Referring to FIG. 29, when the price of product is selected to be onecoin, lower protruding tampon member 320 fits into first assembly bottomhole 1210 without the obstruction of tampon bottom cam presser 1214.When the price of product is selected to be two coins, then tamponbottom cam 1200 as shown in FIG. 31 is added below top cam 200. Tamponbottom cam 1200 functions identically to tampon top cam 200. When firstcoin slot assembly 100A moves inward, second distal end 318 of lowertampon protruding member 320 enters first assembly bottom hole 1210.When lower tampon protruding member 320 is further pushed into firstassembly bottom hole 1210, a lower tampon ribbed section 321 (see FIG.22) located on lower tampon protruding member 320 begins and displacestampon bottom cam presser 1214. As tampon bottom cam presser 1214 isdisplaced by lower tampon protruding member 320, more of first assemblybottom hole 1210 is exposed. Tampon bottom cam presser 1214 restsdirectly against tampon bottom cam closure end 1212. The displacement oftampon bottom cam presser 1214 causes the displacement of tampon bottomcam closure end 1212 since these parts are pressed directly against eachother. The displacement of tampon bottom cam closure cam end 1212 bylower tampon protruding member 320 causes tampon bottom cam 1200 tofurther rotate by an additional distance (approximately 4 millimeters).When tampon bottom cam 1200 rotates from tampon bottom cam firstprotrusion surface 1202 touching the quarter to tampon bottom cam secondprotrusion surface 1204, this increases the distance between tamponbottom cam 1200 and coin return plate 110-2 which causes the quarter tono longer be held in position and to slide down and through interiorchamber 114 until it passes out of bottom slot opening 144 and into coincollection box 700. Both quarters, the first from cam 200 and the secondfrom cam 1200, both involve the same process and both quarters fall intocoin collection box 700.

Referring to FIGS. 11, 24, and 28, first assembly guide 240 fits intotampon cylinder opening 340 of tampon pusher 400. First guide pusherendwall 242 on first coin slot assembly 100A causes tampon pusher 400 tobe displaced when first coin assembly 100A continues to move inwardtowards the center of the invention. Tampon pusher 400 has a frontcurved face 410 which is in direct contact with the lowest tampon member510 in tampon rack 500 (see FIG. 3). When first coin slot assembly 100Ais fully displaced towards inside back panel 9 of the invention, frontcurved face 410 on tampon pusher 400 (see FIG. 11) fits through tamponopening 527 (see FIG. 12) and pushes lowest tampon member 510 off tamponshelf 512 of tampon tray 511 (FIG. 12) and onto release tray 40 (seeFIG. 2). FIG. 23 illustrates a first tampon pusher compression spring515 and a second tampon pusher compression spring 517 that returnstampon pusher 400 to its initial condition when first pushbutton 36 (seeFIG. 1) is released by user. After lowest tampon member 510 is pushedonto release tray 40, a second lowest tampon member 513 which residesdirectly above lowest tampon member 510 prior to being released dropsonto tampon tray 511 and becomes the new lowest tampon member.

FIG. 3 further shows tampons being retained in tampon rack 500. Thetampon rack has a tampon first front wall 514, a tampon second frontwall 518, a tampon left side wall 516, a tampon right sidewall 520, atampon back wall 502, a tampon left rear wall 522, and a tampon rightrear wall 524. Tampons are placed inside tampon holder interior chamber503 at tampon rack top 530 of tampon rack 500. A multitude of tamponscan be placed inside tampon rack 500 as they are held in a storedposition by tampon first front wall 514, tampon second front wall 518,tampon left side wall 516, tampon right sidewall 520, tampon back wall502, tampon left rear wall 522, and tampon right rear wall 524.

Further illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 is a tampon weight 540 which has afirst magnet 542A affixed to tampon weight 540 (see FIG. 6). Tamponweight 540 provides a downward force to keep a multiplicity of tamponsin place and the lowest tampon member in a position to be pushed off oftampon shelf 512. Tampon weight 540 provides an additional function byhaving a first 542A that will illuminate first LED light 42 in a visiblecolor including, but not limited to red, when first magnet 542A isfacing and in proximity with first sensor 542B located on sensor plate550 (see FIG. 5). Tampon weight 540 and sanitary napkin weight 640provide an additional function by blocking the forward movement of firstcoin slot assembly 100A when the present invention is out of tampons andsecond coin slot assembly 100B when the present invention is out ofsanitary napkins.

As can be seen from tampon weight 540 in FIG. 6, there is a heightassociated with tampon weight 540 so that when there is no productremaining in tampon rack 500, from the components illustrated in FIGS.2, 3, 5 and 6, first magnet 542A and first sensor 542B line up and faceeach other to complete a circuit using wires 580, battery 575, and firstLED light 42. When this circuit is complete, first LED light 42illuminates in a visible color, by way of example, the color red.

Referring to FIG. 30, coin slot assembly 100B has a third cylindricalendwall 662 located on third exterior cylindrical member 660 and afourth cylindrical endwall 682 located on fourth exterior cylindricalmember 680. Referring to FIG. 24 module housing 300 is illustratedhaving a fifth compression spring 362 that is retained between a firstsanitary napkin cylindrical member 360 and third exterior end wallinside of third exterior cylindrical member 660. Similarly, there is asixth compression spring 382 that is retained between a second sanitarynapkin cylindrical member 380 and fourth cylindrical end wall 682 insideof fourth exterior cylindrical member 680. Identical to first coin slotassembly 100A, when second coin slot assembly 100B has a quarter insecond coin slot opening 28, second pushbutton 38 located on second coinassembly 100B is pushed inward towards back panel 9. Identical to firstcoin slot assembly 100A, when second coin slot assembly 100B movesinward, fifth compression spring 362 and sixth compression spring 382are compressed.

Further referring to FIGS. 30, as second coin slot assembly 100B movesinward, upper napkin protruding member 390 enters second assembly tophole 690 on second coin slot assembly 100B. When upper napkin protrudingmember 390 has been inserted into second assembly top hole 690, an uppernapkin ribbed section 392 located on upper napkin protruding member 390causes napkin top cam 625 to rotate and release the quarter from secondcoin slot opening 28 (identical to first coin assembly 100A as explainedpreviously in detail) and allows the quarter to fall into coincollection box 700 (see FIG. 9). The owner or operator of the vendingmachine can retrieve this quarter and any other previously insertedquarters used to purchase products by opening front door 7 and accessingcoin collection box 700 by opening of coin collection box lock 702. Anadditional cam can be added to work in conjunction with second assemblybottom hole 695 if the operator or owner of this device wants to chargetwo quarters per product as opposed to one. This additional camfunctions identically to tampon bottom cam 1200 as explained in detailabove. Also, lower napkin protruding member 391 and lower napkin ribbedsection 393 can be used in conjunction with a napkin lower cam andsecond assembly bottom hole 695.

Further referring to FIGS. 12, 26 and 30, there are illustratedcomponents for the steps that as second guide pusher endwall 672 ofsecond assembly guide pusher 670 displaces push rod cylinder 372 of pushrod 370 (see FIG. 15), push rod teeth 374 interlock with pinion gearteeth 802 on pinion gear 800. When push rod 370 moves inward, thiscauses the rotation in a clockwise direction of pinion gear 800.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 21, pinion gear 800 is protected by piniongear cover plate 900 (see FIG. 21). Pinion gear cover plate 900 attachesto module housing 300 by first screw 901, second screw 902, third screw903, fourth screw 904, and fifth screw 905. For purposes of clarity,cover plate 900 is not shown in FIG. 24. Opening 897 in cover plate 900fits over 370 in FIG. 24. The respective screws fit through respectivescrew holes 901S, 902S, 903S, 904S, and 905S.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 22, sanitary napkin dispenser 850 attaches tomodule housing 300 by napkin pin 858 slidably inserted through andretained in module housing slot opening 397. Referring to FIGS. 13 and14, pinion gear 800 has a central hub 810 with a central opening 812 anda groove 814 in the wall of the central hub. Sanitary napkin dispenser850 is integrally affixed to shaft 825. Shaft 825 has an end 830 with atongue 844 adjacent end 830. Shaft 825 is connected to pinion gear 800by means of tongue 844 of shaft end 830 press fitting snugly into groove814 interior hub opening 812 with the remainder of the shaft end 830press fit retained in central opening 812. Tongue section 844 of shaftend 830 prevents the pinion gear from slipping during rotation byfitting into groove section 814 of interior hub opening 812. As piniongear 800 and shaft 825 rotate in unison, sanitary napkin dispenser 850rotates as well. At resting position (prior to second coin assembly 100Bmoving inwards) lowest sanitary napkin member 650 (shown in FIG. 3) isflat or at zero degrees resting upon and across a first top dispensersurface 852 and a second top dispenser surface 854 (see FIG. 13). Whensecond pushbutton member 38 is pressed in and second coin assembly 100Bmoves inwards, pinion gear 800 and shaft 825 rotate the sanitary napkindispenser in a clockwise direction. When second coin assembly 100B ispressed inwards to its maximum possible displacement, sanitary napkindispenser 850 has rotated approximately 60 degrees. By the force ofgravity at this inward position, lowest sanitary napkin member 650slides on first top dispenser surface 852 and second top dispensersurface 854 towards back panel 9 and in a downwards direction. After theentire sanitary napkin bottom surface 652 of lowest sanitary napkinmember 650 has slid past first top edge 862 and a second top edge 864,the lowest sanitary napkin member 650 falls onto release tray 40. Whensecond pushbutton 38 is released by the user, the force of tensionspring 822 (see FIG. 24) returns sanitary napkin dispenser 850 to itsinitial flat position. Then, sanitary napkin weight 640 combined withthe weight of the other napkins forces the second lowest sanitary napkinmember 651 onto sanitary napkin dispenser 850 to become lowest sanitarynapkin member 650. This process is repeated until there is no moresanitary napkin product.

Further referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, after there is no more sanitarynapkin product, sanitary napkin weight 640 (see FIG. 8) comes to rest onthe bottom of sanitary napkin rack 600 and on top of sanitary napkindispenser 850. In this position, second magnet 642A and second sensor642B on second sensor plate 641 (FIG. 7) line up and face each other tocomplete a circuit using wires 580, battery 575, and second LED light44. When this circuit is complete, second LED light 44 illuminates in avisible color, by way of example, the color red. Sanitary napkin weight640, when positioned at the bottom of sanitary napkin rack 600, preventssecond coin slot assembly 100B from moving inward towards the center ofthe invention. This prevents the user of the invention from spending aquarter on a product when the invention is out of a product.

Of course the present invention is not intended to be restricted to anyparticular form or arrangement, or any specific embodiment, or anyspecific use, disclosed herein, since the same may be modified invarious particulars or relations without departing from the spirit orscope of the claimed invention herein above shown and described of whichthe apparatus or method shown is intended only for illustration anddisclosure of an operative embodiment and not to show all of the variousforms or modifications in which this invention might be embodied oroperated.

1. An apparatus for dispensing a product, the apparatus comprising: ahousing for retaining a first dispensable product, the housing having astorage rack configured to hold the first dispensable product; a weightmovably positioned within the storage rack, the weight being configuredto exert a downward force on the first dispensable product; a magnetaffixed to the weight; a sensor plate positioned adjacent to a first endof the storage rack, the sensor plate having a sensor affixed thereto; acoin assembly having a first coin slot, the coin assembly beingconfigured to receive a coin; and a pushbutton associated with the coinassembly, the pushbutton being configured, upon activation, to cause thecoin assembly to move from a first position to a second position after acoin has been placed within the first coin slot; wherein the magnet isconfigured to substantially align with the sensor once the firstdispensable product has been completely dispensed from the housing, themagnet and sensor, once substantially aligned, being configured toactivate an indicator light on the outside of the housing; and whereinthe housing is configured to dispense the first dispensable product whenthe coin assembly is within the second position.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising at least one compression spring beingconfigured to move the coin assembly from the first position to thesecond position in response to activating the pushbutton.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, further comprising a push rod associated with thecoin assembly, the push rod being configured to push the firstdispensable product onto a release tray that is positioned at one end ofthe housing.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the push rod includesa plurality of teeth interlocking with a pinion gear, wherein the piniongear is configured to rotate as the push rod moves from a first positionto a second position.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising asecond storage rack configured to hold a second dispensable product. 6.The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the housing is configured to dispensethe second dispensable product when the second coin assembly is in thesecond position.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising asecond weight movably positioned within the second storage rack, thesecond weight being configured to exert a downward force on the seconddispensable product.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising asecond magnet affixed to the second weight.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,further comprising a second sensor plate positioned adjacent a first endof the second storage rack, the second sensor plate having a secondsensor affixed thereto.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the secondmagnet is configured to substantially align with the second sensor oncethe second dispensable product has been completely dispensed from thehousing, the second magnet and second sensor, once substantiallyaligned, being configured to activate a second indicator light on theoutside of the housing.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisinga second coin assembly having a second coin slot, the second coinassembly being configured to receive a second coin.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 11, further comprising a second pushbutton associated with thesecond coin assembly, the second pushbutton being configured, uponactivation, to cause the second coin assembly to move from a firstposition to a second position after the second coin has been placedwithin the second coin slot.